News

Grace Digital unveils iPod tube amplifier

By Charles Starrett ● Monday, February 4, 2008

Grace Digital has announced its new Lars & Ivan line of high-end audio products, including a new tube amplifier for the iPod. The Hybrid PA-40Ti is a “high performance integrated iPod tube amplifier,” which features a built-in iPod Dock, a four channel input selector, volume control, stereo headphone output, subwoofer output, a remote control, and “high quality” speaker wire connectors. The unit also features a USB port for iPod syncing, as well as video output and the ability to charge the iPod. Output power is rated at 40W RMS. “Most products in this category are either extremely expensive, lack design appeal, or provide poor audio performance,” said Greg Fadul, Grace Digital’s Chief Marketing Officer. “At $449.99 MSRP, the Hybrid Amplifier model 40PaTi offers high end audio performance, unique design and build quality at an affordable price.” To complement the Hybrid amplifier, the company launched two new speaker sets. The Bobo speakers are bookshelf-sized speakers featuring an acrylic front frame and aluminum stand. They will sell for $300/pair, while the Cube S speakers will sell for $500 a pair. The new Lars & Ivan offerings will be available in mid-March.

Comments

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I have a few quick comments on these products. One being they all come from the same design house over in china, not that products from that location are poorly made, but the cost is incredibly cheap and mark up is extremely evident on all units. Secondly this unit which weighs a hefty amount due only in part to the end plates, and finally it appears to look like a robots face when you sit it up. This is not what you would expect when you drop $450.00 bucks for an ipod docking station or is it?
Finally the remote control is very weak in function. This I would say is a pass, save your money for something worth having, not regrettable something you will get and say, “why did I get this 450 dollar paper weight”.

Posted by Charles Starrett on February 24, 2008 at 9:38 PM (CST)

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Hi Robert, This is Greg Fadul from Grace Digital who has a partnership with Lars and Ivan in the US.

I have a few questions /comments:

1) yes this is made in China. So that means it is bad? I do not know the percentage but I think an educated guess would be that 90%+ of consumer electronics sold in the US are made in China or other parts of Asia. Lars and Ivan is an awesome engineering and design house and create very high quality products. They are the behind the scenes manufacturing for 2 of the world’s leading guitar amps since the late 1970’s. Hence their expertise in creating a tube (value) amplifier is world class.

2) Why is mark up extremely evident? We have not marked up this product more than standard mark up in the industry.

3) The weight is not due to ‘paper weights’ they are high quality and elegant heat sinks.

4) The remote control is admittedly not an unbelievable remote control. But it does do all of the low end and high end functions.